Written Answers

Wednesday 22 November 2000

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes took place in the average value of Grade I and Grade II farmland in the years 1993 to 2000.

Ross Finnie: Information on land values by grade of land is not available. The figures in the table below comes from the Valuation Office from the Register of Sasines and relate to sales of land of five hectares or more. The table is based on the date of the sale, defined as the date of completion of the deed transferring the property. There are substantial time lags between this and the date when complete information on the sale becomes available. As a result there are not sufficient land sales data recorded for 2000 to give meaningful results while data for the previous years may be subject to revision as more information becomes available.

  The table below gives information on land sales by farm type from 1993 to 1999. Grade 1 and Grade 2 land is the best agricultural land and in total cover just over 100,000 hectares in Scotland or around 1% of the total land area and is most likely to be found on cereals, general cropping and horticultural farms.

  Land Sales by EC Farm Type in Scotland, 1993 to 1999

  





1993
£/ha


1994
£/ha


1995
£/ha


1996
£/ha


1997
£/ha


1998
£/ha


1999
£/ha




Cereals


541 


481 


2,254 


4,369 


4,213 


5,034 


5,919 




General cropping


1,321 


1,050 


3,871 


4,628 


4,038 


4,121 


6,697 




Horticulture


3,159 


4,111 


3,185 


* 


5,847 


* 


* 




Pigs & poultry


2,302 


2,341 


2,997 


6,946 


3,060 


2,197 


* 




Dairy


2,888 


3,142 


4,684 


5,204 


2,715 


3,876 


3,286 




LFA cattle & sheep 


2,524 


2,805 


1,705 


1,753 


1,322 


1,538 


2,288 




Lowground cattle & sheep


2,904 


2,904 


2,513 


2,782 


3,339 


4,575 


3,339 




Mixed


703 


2,267 


1,817 


3,880 


1,844 


2,517 


3,593 




Other


1,914 


2,120 


3,351 


1,700 


1,310 


4,256 


17,472 




All types


1,622 


1,702 


2,738 


2,837 


1,954 


2,640 


3,959 




  * means there were no land sales in this category.

  Notes: There are a number of factors over and above the quality of the land which can affect the price of farmland:

  (a) whether the land is fully equipped with farmhouse and steading;

  (b) whether the land is sold with vacant possession or has a sitting tenant;

  (c) whether the sale is ‘genuine’ i.e. to a third party, or a family transaction;

  (d) whether the land has any significant non-agricultural use;

  (e) whether the land contains a dwelling or amenity estate;

  (f) whether the land is sold for roads, housing or industry;

  (g) whether the land is sold for private or public sector forestry, and

  (h) whether the land is non-agricultural (e.g. opencast coal mine) but with agricultural potential.

  (I) whether the land is existing forestry.

Agriculture

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many bankruptcies there were among farmers in each year from 1994 to present and what percentage of the total number of farmers in Scotland in each of these years each of these figures represents.

Ross Finnie: Information on bankruptcies by occupation is not available. The figures in the table come from the Accountant in Bankruptcy and show the number of sequestrations of people employed in the agriculture and horticulture industries in Scotland in each year since 1994 to present. The figures cover employees as well as the self-employed, and so may include people other than farmers.

  Number of Sequestrations in the Agriculture and Horticulture Industries in Scotland, 1994-2000

  


Year


Number of Sequestrations


Number of people involved 
in sequestrations as a percentage of the total labour force employed 
in Scottish agriculture.




1994


12


0.018%




1995


13


0.019%




1996


11


0.016%




1997


8


0.012%




1998


15


0.021%




1999


6


0.009%




2000 (as at 9/11/2000)


5


0.007%




  The number of sequestrations in the Scottish farming industry each year is very small. Most farmers leaving the industry, as a result of financial pressure, do so in an orderly way by selling up and realising their assets.

Cancer

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people died from mesothelioma in each year since 1980, broken down by health board area.

Susan Deacon: The information is not available centrally in the format requested. It is not possible to identify separately the cases where mesothelioma was the underlying cause of death. The table below gives the numbers of deaths where mesothelioma was mentioned on the death certificate.

  


Deaths in Scotland where mesothelioma 
was mentioned on the death certificate, 1980-1999, by health board




Health Board Area


1980


1981


1982


1983


1984


1985


1986


1987


1988


1989




Scotland


57


58


53


61


65


53


67


92


103


113




Argyll and Clyde


11


9


7


5


8


9


9


12


15


22




Ayrshire and Arran


2


4


1


1


2


1


1


3


4


6




Borders











1





1


2





1







Dumfries and Galloway


1








2














1







Fife


3


4


6


8


6


3


2


5


4


10




Forth Valley


1


2


2


2


1


2


6


5


4


2




Grampian


2


2





1





3


4


4


9


6




Greater Glasgow


27


27


24


30


27


22


26


37


40


37




Highland











2


2


2





3


3







Lanarkshire





4


3


1


3


3


5


9


4


10




Lothian


10


5


7


4


14


5


8


11


13


16




Orkney














1














1




Shetland


































Tayside





1


3


4


1


2


4


3


5


2




Western Isles





























1




  





1990


1991


1992


1993


1994


1995


1996


1997


1998


1999




Scotland


110


110


130


118


129


153


140


133


155


158




Argyll and Clyde


22


8


20


20


20


24


25


23


25


22




Ayrshire and Arran


5


5


7


7


11


6


6


8


13


9




Borders


1


1


1








3


3








1




Dumfries and Galloway


1


2





3


2


2


1


1


3


2




Fife


8


6


13


6


12


14


11


7


11


11




Forth Valley


5


3


7


2


4


6


6


3


2


6




Grampian


3


10


5


8


5


9


10


14


11


14




Greater Glasgow


42


43


47


40


44


43


36


41


34


41




Highland


2


1





5


4


6


3


1


7


9




Lanarkshire


15


13


12


12


13


12


16


14


22


11




Lothian


3


12


14


14


12


23


11


12


14


22




Orkney

















1








2







Shetland




















1





1







Tayside


3


6


3


1


2


4


11


9


10


10




Western Isles








1

Cancer

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Director-General of the Cancer Research Campaign to bring in clinical trials on drugs to combat mesothelioma to Scotland.

Susan Deacon: I and officials from my department have met with Cancer Research Campaign Director-General on a number of occasions to discuss matters of common interest.

  As far as clinical trials are concerned, the Scottish Executive encourages patient entry into relevant clinical trials. Eligibility of individual patients and the decision to participate in each case is a matter for decision and agreement between clinicians and their patients.

Emergency Services

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the findings of the review by the Scottish Ambulance Service of accident and emergency services.

Susan Deacon: The review of the accident and emergency services is due to conclude early in 2001. I will then consider the findings and recommendations.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why a Ministerial Statement was not made to announce the new safety improvement scheme for the fishing industry.

Rhona Brankin: The intention to establish a new Scottish Seafishing Safety Scheme was first announced by John Home Robertson during the Fisheries Debate on 8 December last year. Following the discussions with the industry which were promised at that time, I announced the detailed arrangements for the scheme in my written answer to Rhoda Grant of 6 November (question S1W-10937). I am pleased that there has been a generally warm welcome from the industry for this important Scottish Executive initiative.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what fishing rights are owned by (a) absentee landlords and (b) landowners who own adjacent land.

Rhona Brankin: This information is not held centrally.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £2,580 annual unitary fee per 1,884 registered/list patients ( Medeconomics , June 2000, page 86), is sufficient to cover health promotion in relation to smoking, alcohol problems, strokes and heart disease.

Susan Deacon: The current arrangements, as detailed in the general practitioners Statement of Fees and Allowances (SFA), allow for a GP to be paid £2,580 per annum, for local health promotion activities as agreed annually between the GP and health board/Primary Care Trust, pro rata per 1,884 registered/list patients.

  In addition to these payments, GPs provide health promotion advice as part of General Medical Services and the fees and allowances which they receive are designed to reflect such activity.

  Together, the current level of payments provide substantial resources to cover health promotion activities.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what cost benefit analysis has been undertaken, in partnership with the NHS in England and Wales where appropriate, into the use of newer, safer, more effective medicines rather than older, less expensive drugs which may have a poorer safety profile and a lower level of patient compliance.

Susan Deacon: No cost benefit analysis can be attempted in global terms to make the comparison between more recently introduced products which claim to be safer, against established products.

  A cost benefit analysis or other economic analyses can only be done to compare two or more treatments for a given use. There are a number of units providing such analysis on behalf of the NHS, including units based within Scotland.

  In addition, publications such as the Scottish Medicines Resource Bulletin and its English and Welsh equivalents give advice to prescribers on choice of treatment, but are not full economic assessments of the subject.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why patients who suffer from polycystic kidney disorder, of which a major side effect is high blood pressure, have to pay for their prescriptions of blood pressure control drugs such as Carace, which need to be taken every day for the rest of their lives.

Susan Deacon: Unless otherwise exempt from prescription charges, sufferers of polycystic kidney disorder have to pay charges because the illness is not on the list of medical conditions which confer exemption from prescription charges. We have no plans to add to the list.

Homelessness

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to improve facilities for, and access to, healthcare for the homeless beyond the current year.

Susan Deacon: The £4 million allocated to health boards this year for spend in support of Rough Sleepers Initiative projects was targeted at the pump-priming and evaluation of services with long-term potential.

  Guidance on the health care needs of homeless people, including rough sleepers, will be issued shortly for health bodies to take forward over the coming years.

  A national Health and Homelessness co-ordinator will be appointed later this year for a three-year period to spearhead improvements in health care for this vulnerable group, including developing standards of care.

Homelessness

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homeless people have participated in the New Deal programme since it started.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the delivery of the New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners including the Scottish Executive.

  Information on the numbers of homeless people joining the New Deal is not available.

Justice

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, for each district and regional procurator fiscal’s office, what the weighted workload was for each of the last three years and what the projections are for the next three years, and what the corresponding allocated resources are for each year.

Colin Boyd QC: The figures are shown in the attached table. Average time (weighted unit) values exist for all disposal avenues - these values are national averages which do not take account of varying local circumstances. In addition, the values do not yet take account of the impact of any additional work attributable to the introduction of the European Convention on Human Rights.

  The values have been multiplied by the number of cases of each type in each office to obtain a weighted output for each office.

  Resources are allocated at regional level and are not comparable with the weighted workload data.

  


Weighted Units


1997-98


1998-99


1999-2000




Aberdeen


2,995,949 


3,762,090 


3,405,781 




Airdrie


2,301,363 


2,371,232 


2,534,705 




Alloa


430,477 


425,485 


523,601 




Arbroath


662,881 


787,841 


717,636 




Ayr


2,031,619 


2,050,303 


2,030,279 




Banff


202,729 


299,746 


274,098 




Campbeltown


139,397 


142,300 


133,793 




Cupar


418,360 


454,183 


352,678 




Dingwall


322,115 


251,493 


259,902 




Dornoch


96,762 


86,306 


89,828 




Dumbarton


2,203,018 


2,034,329 


1,850,429 




Dumfries


1,235,021 


1,422,327 


1,420,747 




Dundee


2,848,260 


2,287,148 


2,390,778 




Dunfermline


1,319,450 


1,345,076 


1,264,533 




Dunoon


297,501 


267,975 


270,312 




Duns


171,480 


98,302 


173,637 




Edinburgh


7,887,435 


7,283,206 


6,737,577 




Elgin


671,380 


674,417 


677,116 




Falkirk


1,738,672 


1,709,560 


1,797,937 




Forfar


313,137 


312,704 


472,249 




Fort William


260,020 


187,244 


257,997 




Glasgow


18,540,810 


17,607,737 


18,445,845 




Greenock


1,297,201 


1,259,882 


1,305,851 




Haddington


622,644 


613,387 


518,616 




Hamilton


4,900,478 


4,376,623 


3,958,057 




Inverness


1,191,661 


1,168,992 


1,035,870 




Jedburgh


360,965 


416,043 


553,047 




Kilmarnock


2,678,138 


2,716,637 


2,815,326 




Kirkcaldy


1,724,572 


1,836,180 


1,694,106 




Kirkcudbright


263,086 


197,932 


196,925 




Kirkwall


151,818 


132,462 


104,139 




Lanark


829,636 


807,000 


724,477 




Lerwick


117,083 


110,476 


145,819 




Linlithgow


1,456,504 


1,502,401 


1,470,624 




Lochmaddy


36,023 


44,909 


31,608 




Oban


327,519 


243,202 


253,548 




Paisley


2,547,333 


2,796,923 


2,712,169 




Peebles


71,425 


81,340 


89,633 




Perth


1,506,593 


1,602,329 


1,441,338 




Peterhead


632,991 


643,814 


568,835 




Portree


59,808 


49,575 


63,164 




Rothesay


66,463 


56,627 


44,389 




Selkirk


270,422 


257,125 


267,412 




Stirling


1,052,923 


953,492 


871,080 




Stonehaven


449,071 


353,259 


341,686 




Stornoway


204,112 


129,791 


104,074 




Stranraer


597,099 


482,112 


506,185 




Tain


274,026 


293,538 


282,829 




Wick


236,353 


186,934 


159,990

Justice

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the number of (a) solemn cases and (b) summary cases was for each of the last three years, listed by district and regional procurator fiscal’s office.

Colin Boyd QC: The figures are as shown in the attached tables.

  


Total Solemn Disposals


1997-98


1998-99


1999-2000




Aberdeen


158


205


168 




Airdrie


151 


138 


171 




Alloa


15 


20 


31 




Arbroath


36 


33 


44 




Ayr


93 


104 


91 




Banff


7 


11 


8 




Campbeltown


5 


3 


2 




Cupar


20 


28 


20 




Dingwall


9 


7 


16 




Dornoch


4 


3 


2 




Dumbarton


108 


122 


93 




Dumfries


59 


59 


66 




Dundee


169 


117 


144 




Dunfermline


65 


81 


84 




Dunoon


12 


10 


13 




Duns


6 


2 


9 




Edinburgh


413 


401 


362 




Elgin


31 


21 


33 




Falkirk


94 


103 


112 




Forfar


13 


7 


24 




Fort William


9 


7 


14 




Glasgow


1,054 


935 


1,155 




Greenock


70 


80 


71 




Haddington


17 


23 


16 




Hamilton


242 


195 


196 




Inverness


43 


47 


39 




Jedburgh


25 


35 


52 




Kilmarnock


142 


134 


184 




Kirkcaldy


101 


115 


118 




Kirkcudbright


8 


9 


4 




Kirkwall


7 


5 


3 




Lanark


22 


22 


23 




Lerwick


3 


3 


3 




Linlithgow


71 


78 


89 




Lochmaddy


- 


1 


- 




Oban


19 


10 


11 




Paisley


130 


172 


166 




Peebles


1 


2 


4 




Perth


54 


66 


68 




Peterhead


41 


22 


29 




Portree


1 


2 


3 




Rothesay


3 


3 


2 




Selkirk


10 


10 


14 




Stirling


61 


59 


58 




Stonehaven


13 


7 


8 




Stornoway


3 


1 


1 




Stranraer


38 


15 


25 




Tain


11 


15 


10 




Wick


11 


6 


6 




Totals


3,678 


3,554 


3,865 




  


 
Total Summary Disposals


1997-98


1998-99


1999-2000




Aberdeen


8,066 


9,443 


7,554 




Airdrie


3,588 


3,693 


3,656 




Alloa


1,079 


898 


1,033 




Arbroath


1,494 


1,998 


1,317 




Ayr


4,967 


4,660 


4,987 




Banff


584 


672 


758 




Campbeltown


390 


381 


357 




Cupar


1,094 


837 


980 




Dingwall


701 


715 


710 




Dornoch


211 


200 


182 




Dumbarton


3,786 


2,846 


3,237 




Dumfries


2,926 


3,023 


3,329 




Dundee


4,666 


4,319 


4,597 




Dunfermline


2,834 


2,632 


2,563 




Dunoon


629 


512 


505 




Duns


621 


535 


547 




Edinburgh


14,131 


12,049 


10,956 




Elgin


1,812 


1,971 


1,559 




Falkirk


3,698 


3,333 


3,567 




Forfar


1,067 


1,057 


1,410 




Fort William


778 


547 


604 




Glasgow


27,386 


26,036 


22,303 




Greenock


2,202 


2,145 


2,484 




Haddington


1,792 


1,520 


1,392 




Hamilton


9,001 


8,382 


6,991 




Inverness


2,718 


2,653 


2,599 




Jedburgh


782 


756 


855 




Kilmarnock


6,022 


5,862 


5,325 




Kirkcaldy


3,905 


4,124 


3,002 




Kirkcudbright


778 


518 


640 




Kirkwall


276 


270 


258 




Lanark


2,445 


2,359 


1,915 




Lerwick


272 


303 


421 




Linlithgow


3,394 


3,336 


2,825 




Lochmaddy


108 


87 


85 




Oban


638 


637 


600 




Paisley


4,591 


3,666 


3,727 




Peebles


310 


249 


289 




Perth


4,211 


4,361 


3,281 




Peterhead


1,696 


1,506 


993 




Portree


213 


146 


137 




Rothesay


99 


97 


81 




Selkirk


917 


917 


780 




Stirling


1,916 


1,720 


1,660 




Stonehaven


1,893 


1,603 


1,374 




Stornoway


760 


487 


349 




Stranraer


1,263 


1,169 


1,273 




Tain


707 


662 


768 




Wick


484 


498 


419 




Totals


139,901 


132,390 


121,234

Justice

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the number of cases marked "no proceedings" were for each district and regional procurator fiscal’s office for each of the last three years.

Colin Boyd QC: The figures are shown in the attached table.

  


 
 
 
 
 
Total Cases
"No Proceedings"


1997-98


1998-99


1999-2000




Aberdeen


1,406


1,727


2,198




Airdrie


1,157 


1,396 


1,319 




Alloa


435 


400 


362 




Arbroath


234 


433 


389 




Ayr


841 


1,025 


1,009 




Banff


162 


305 


456 




Campbeltown


55 


59 


76 




Cupar


451 


450 


388 




Dingwall


263 


227 


143 




Dornoch


55 


44 


39 




Dumbarton


1,239 


1,528 


1,275 




Dumfries


1,118 


1,299 


806 




Dundee


1,100 


1,221 


1,251 




Dunfermline


885 


956 


1,153 




Dunoon


250 


150 


148 




Duns


64 


61 


56 




Edinburgh


2,681 


2,810 


3,386 




Elgin


504 


456 


486 




Falkirk


1,126 


1,062 


864 




Forfar


190 


231 


276 




Fort William


95 


131 


109 




Glasgow


8,601 


10,562 


13,726 




Greenock


865 


842 


817 




Haddington


285 


442 


347 




Hamilton


2,662 


2,533 


2,440 




Inverness


986 


927 


720 




Jedburgh


161 


154 


175 




Kilmarnock


1,033 


1,085 


1,451 




Kirkcaldy


1,005 


1,232 


1,308 




Kirkcudbright


226 


214 


171 




Kirkwall


67 


93 


72 




Lanark


372 


340 


346 




Lerwick


116 


118 


94 




Linlithgow


775 


832 


841 




Lochmaddy


37 


25 


24 




Oban


129 


218 


184 




Paisley


1,659 


1,410 


2,036 




Peebles


7 


52 


81 




Perth


909 


1,134 


893 




Peterhead


411 


240 


204 




Portree


62 


46 


32 




Rothesay


39 


40 


30 




Selkirk


285 


403 


273 




Stirling


767 


777 


660 




Stonehaven


112 


104 


118 




Stornoway


52 


50 


34 




Stranraer


391 


450 


446 




Tain


209 


129 


134 




Wick


167 


169 


112 




Totals


36,701 


40,592 


43,958

Legislation

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the Lord Advocate notified the Presiding Officer that he did not intend to refer the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Bill to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Colin Boyd QC: A letter dated 13 September 2000 was sent on behalf of the Lord Advocate notifying the Presiding Office that the Lord Advocate did not intend to make a reference to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in respect of the Bill or any provision of it.

Local Government

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage innovation and effective partnership working in the governance of our communities.

Angus MacKay: The Executive is committed to introducing a statutory power of community initiative for local authorities and a statutory basis for community planning at the earliest legislative opportunity.

  Today, I shall be publishing a consultation paper on our proposals for legislation in these important areas. We want to encourage innovation and joined-up working between councils and their local partners so that they can meet the needs of their communities more effectively.

  The consultation paper will also cover proposals to widen access to council membership by amending the rules which restrict council employees from becoming elected members.

Medical Research

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is being made available for research into polycystic disorder, particularly autosmal recessive polycystic disease which causes kidney failure in children.

Susan Deacon: The Chief Scientist Office within the Scottish Executive Health Department is largely a response mode funder of research and this role is well advertised throughout the medical and academic community. CSO has received no research proposals of a sufficiently high standard on polycystic disorder or autosmal recessive polycystic disease recently and therefore does not directly fund research into these health problems at present. However, CSO would be pleased to receive research applications in this area, which would be subject to the usual peer and committee review.

  CSO is aware of 19 ongoing or recently completed projects in the UK on polycystic disorder (one of which is in Scotland) and three ongoing or recently completed projects on autosmal recessive polycystic disease (none of which are in Scotland). Details of these projects are available from the National Research Register (NRR), a copy of which is in the SPICe.

  The results of the projects undertaken throughout the UK will inform the future direction of research and treatment of this disease.

Mental Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it provides on treating schizophrenia and other mental illnesses with Resperidone, Olanzapine and Quetiapine rather than older medicines such as Chlorpromazine.

Susan Deacon: The use of Risperidone, Olanzapine and Quetiapine for the treatment of schizophrenia and other mental illness depends on the clinical judgment of the clinician concerned. It is for each health board to determine its prescribing policy on drugs, including Risperidone, Olanzapine and Quetiapine, taking into account advice from local drug and therapeutic committees.

NHS Equipment

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many haemo dialysis machines there are, broken down by health board; where they are located, and how many years each machine has been in operation.

Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally. It is for health boards and Trusts to ensure that they have sufficient haemo dialysis machines to meet the needs of the communities they serve.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether business rates represent a greater burden to small businesses than to larger businesses.

Peter Peacock: It will depend on the particular business, but in general there is some evidence which suggests that non-domestic rates for small businesses represent a greater proportion of turnover than their counterparts in larger businesses.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, if small businesses are subject to a disproportionate burden in the level of business rates they are required to pay, why this is the case and what its position is in relation to the evidence given by the Federation of Small Businesses on this issue to the Local Government Committee’s inquiry into non-domestic rates.

Peter Peacock: There is some evidence which suggests that non-domestic rates for small businesses represent a greater proportion of turnover and profit than their counterparts in larger businesses. We are considering the position on rate relief for small businesses and will announce before Christmas what conclusions have been drawn and how we intend to proceed.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if it introduces a small business rates relief scheme, it will introduce a scheme under which small businesses occupying premises with rateable values of less than £10,000 receive rates relief according to a set of rateable value bands, with those occupying the lowest value premises receiving the greatest relief.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the conclusions of the Local Government Committee’s 8th Report 2000: Non-domestic Rates it (a) accepts and (b) rejects and what the reasons are for its position in relation to each of the committee’s conclusions.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a small business rates relief scheme; if so, whether the scheme introduced will be that advocated by (a) the Federation of Small Businesses, (b) the Forum of Private Business or (c) the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in Modernising Local Government Finance: A Green Paper and, if its scheme differs from all of these, whether it will outline its proposals.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a small business rates relief scheme on 1 April 2001 and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Peter Peacock: We are considering the position on rate relief for small businesses and will announce before Christmas what conclusions have been drawn and how we intend to proceed.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out since 8 December 1999 on the issue of a small business rates relief scheme.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what further research will be conducted or information sought on the issue of a small business rates relief scheme.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make a Ministerial Statement on a small business rates relief scheme.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Valuation and Rating Council (SVRC) has been considering the issue of small business rates relief and the Small Business Consultative Group (SBCG) has been considering the wider issue of assistance for small businesses.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 8 December 1999 it has met with (a) the Federation of Small Businesses and (b) the Forum for Private Business to discuss a small business rates relief scheme.

Peter Peacock: The Executive meets on a regular basis with representatives from a wide range of business organisations as part of a partnership working group established to consider aspects of the revaluation of non-domestic rates and the rating system generally. The working group has met twice since December 1999. Specific meetings with representatives of the Federation of Small Businesses were held on 11 July and 3 October 2000 and with the Forum for Private Business on 7 July and 29 September 2000.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 8 December 1999 it has had discussions with the Confederation of British Industry regarding a small business rates relief scheme.

Peter Peacock: The Confederation of British Industry, CBI Scotland, is represented on a partnership working group which includes representatives from various business organisations and was established to consider aspects of the revaluation of non-domestic rates and the rating system generally. The working group has met twice since December 1999.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 8 December 1999 it has met representatives of the Assessors to discuss a small business rates relief scheme and when it will next meet such representatives.

Peter Peacock: The Executive meets regularly with the Scottish Assessors to discuss a number of non-domestic rating matters, including assistance for small businesses.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 8 December 1999 it has met (a) Ministers and (b) officials of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to discuss a small business rates relief scheme.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive maintains close contact with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions on local taxation issues including those relating to small business rates relief.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 8 December 1999 it has met (a) Ministers and (b) officials of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss a small business rates relief scheme.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive maintains close contact with the National Assembly for Wales on local taxation issues including those relating to small business rates relief.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met the Inland Revenue to discuss the Federation of Small Businesses’ proposal for a small business rates relief scheme and, if not, whether it will now initiate such a meeting.

Peter Peacock: We are considering the position on rate relief for small businesses and will announce before Christmas what conclusions have been drawn and how we intend to proceed. We have not met with the Inland Revenue to discuss rate relief for small businesses.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Federation of Small Businesses’ proposal for a small business rates relief scheme has been discussed at any meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee and, if so, on what dates.

Peter Peacock: The Joint Ministerial Committee has not discussed this matter.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates its Cabinet has discussed a small business rates relief scheme.

Peter Peacock: The Cabinet regularly discusses issues relating to the financing of local government of which matters relating to business rates forms part.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which bodies it has met to discuss a small business rates relief scheme since 8 December 1999.

Peter Peacock: The Executive has discussed the issue of small business rates relief with representatives of the following bodies; in some cases separately or as part of the business representatives group meetings:

  British Hospitality Association;

  Confederation of British Industry, Scotland;

  Chemical Industries Association;

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities;

  Forum of Private Business;

  Federation of Small Businesses, Scotland;

  Institute of Directors;

  Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland;

  Scottish Assessors’ Association;

  Scottish Chambers of Commerce;

  Scottish Council Development and Industry;

  Scottish Licenced Trade Association;

  Scottish Retail Consortium;

  Scottish Tourism Forum;

  Scottish Valuation and Rating Council;

  Scottish Wholesalers’ Association;

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if it decides to introduce a small business rates relief scheme, such a decision will be announced by means of (a) a Ministerial Statement, (b) an answer to a parliamentary question or (c) a press release.

Peter Peacock: We are considering the position on rate relief for small businesses and will announce before Christmas what conclusions have been drawn and how we intend to proceed. Decisions on the most appropriate method of such an announcement will be made nearer the time.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult the Local Government Committee prior to making any ministerial statement on a small business rates relief scheme and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Peter Peacock: The Local Government Committee invited Ministers to report back on the Executive’s thinking on the issue of small business rates relief. This will be done before any rate relief scheme is established.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether introduction of the small business rates relief scheme proposed by the Federation of Small Businesses would assist in achieving the Executive’s target of creating 100,000 new small businesses by 2009.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a form of small business rates relief scheme would assist in achieving its target of creating 100,000 new small businesses by 2009.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many existing small businesses would cease trading in the period 2009 if a small business rates relief scheme is not introduced on 1 April 2001.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new businesses would be created in the period to 2009 as a result of a small business rates relief scheme being introduced on 1 April 2001.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The impact on new business starts and existing businesses would depend on the details of any small business rates relief scheme which may be introduced. By reducing costs a relief scheme may help encourage more individuals to start-up in business and improve the financial position of those existing firms which benefit. However, any proposal to reduce the liabilities of certain non-domestic ratepayers could reduce the overall non-domestic rate income collected.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in Scotland are not liable for non-domestic rates.

Peter Peacock: This information is not collected centrally.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of all the administration costs which would arise from the introduction of a small business rates relief scheme.

Peter Peacock: It is not possible to provide such a breakdown. It depends on the type of scheme which may be introduced.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether implementing a small business rates relief scheme would give rise to additional costs for local authorities and what the nature and level of any such additional costs would be.

Peter Peacock: The costs of administering any small business rates relief scheme will be taken into account in considering how best to proceed. We are considering the position on rate relief for small businesses and will announce before Christmas what conclusions have been drawn and how we intend to proceed.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to (a) review, (b) consult on and (c) legislate on the issue of control of levels of rentals of hereditaments.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive currently has no plans to review, consult on or legislate on the issue of the levels of rents of heritable property.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has informed non-domestic ratepayers or businesses, in information leaflets or by any other method, of the variation in the rate poundage between Scotland and England and between Scotland and Wales.

Peter Peacock: The Executive published a paper on 17 January explaining the calculations underlying the Scottish non-domestic rate poundage for 2000-01. This included an explanation of the reasons for the differences in rate poundage north and south of the Border.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether rateable values in Scotland and in England and Wales are now harmonised and, if not, which hereditaments do not have harmonised rateable values.

Peter Peacock: A harmonised approach to determining rateable values has been adopted between Scotland, England and Wales. Assessors have confirmed that there are no specific classes of property where harmonisation is considered to be an issue.

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it first considered any relationship between a small business rates relief scheme and the transitional rates relief scheme.

Peter Peacock: The current transitional relief scheme provides relief to all qualifying businesses, including small businesses.

Nuclear Power

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government or Scottish Power on the possibility of increasing the nuclear electric power generation capacity in Scotland.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has regular discussions with the Department of Trade and Industry and the energy industry on a wide range of matters.

Planning

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been and will be taken to ensure that the planning appeals system is compliant with Article 6(1) of the European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-6799 on 30 May 2000.

Planning

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its guidance for planning departments on whether a wind farm is considered to be an industrial application.

Mr Sam Galbraith: We have no plans to issue such guidance. However, we expect to publish a revised National Planning Policy Guideline 6: Renewable Energy shortly.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the publication of the Deloitte and Touche report A Review into Exam Results Issues Concerning the Scottish Qualifications Authority on 3 November 2000, how it will monitor progress against the recommendations contained in the report.

Mr Jack McConnell: Following the publication of the Deloitte and Touche report, I asked the SQA to prepare a formal compliance statement setting out how they intended to put the recommendations contained within the Deloitte and Touche report into practice. I am pleased to announce that SQA met the 20 November deadline which I imposed for submitting this compliance statement. Copies have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. no. 9806) and can also be downloaded from the Scottish Executive website.

  Following the publication of the Deloitte and Touche report, I also announced the formation of a ministerial review group, with stakeholder membership, to monitor progress against the recommendations of the report. Because of its importance, the group will have a ministerial rather than an official chair, the Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs, Nicol Stephen. I can also announce that the group will consist of representatives from the following stakeholders:

  Parents;

  Teachers, including classroom and principal teachers;

  Headteachers;

  Secondary school students;

  Education authorities;

  Further education colleges, including students and the Association of Scottish Colleges;

  Employers.

  The group will be supported by officials of the SQA and the Scottish Executive Education Department. A major focus of the Deloitte and Touche report was the need for improved communication with centres and I particularly want the Ministerial Review Group to monitor progress against recommendations on this important issue.

  I am meeting the interim Chair, John Ward, and the interim Chief Executive, Bill Morton, of the SQA later today. I do not underestimate the scale of the challenges facing the new Chair and Chief Executive. The SQA need to concentrate on priority areas and I am pleased to announce today progress on three key issues: marker fees; internal assessment, and the design of the Scottish Qualifications Certificate.

  One of the key recommendations of the Deloitte and Touche report was to "re-evaluate the basis of remuneration of markers in the light of the experience of Diet 2000". Markers play a pivotal role within the exam process and I want to ensure that this year’s difficulties do not have a negative effect on the recruitment of markers this year. Many teachers agree to marking as part of their own professional development and I want to encourage as many as possible to become involved. In response to these issues, the SQA has initiated a review of remuneration of markers which will report by Christmas. The Scottish Executive is actively participating in this project. I have made clear to the SQA that an increase in marker fees is desirable and that the Scottish Executive is prepared to assist financially to achieve this.

  The Deloitte and Touche report also contained recommendations on returns of internal assessment data. I have received many comments from teachers and other stakeholders about the process of submitting internal assessment returns to the SQA. I have pursued this as a matter of priority with the SQA and, following a meeting with the Scottish Executive on 17 November, the SQA has agreed to carry out a feasibility study with a view to implementing a simpler system of internal assessment returns from schools. Such a system would be based on the following:

  Schools would send to SQA the details of units for which they wished candidates to be entered.

  As candidates took the units, the schools would record the results of these units on their own systems as they do at present.

  In early May, SQA would send a report to schools providing details of the units for which entries were held on their system based on information previously provided by the schools.

  By 31 May, schools would advise the SQA of any units for which the result was a fail, deferred or withdrawn.

  Where the SQA had not been notified of any exception by the school, candidates’ unit results would be treated as a pass.

  It is recognised that the needs of FE colleges are different to those of schools. The SQA will have further consultation with the Association of Scottish Colleges to discuss what data handling arrangements would best meet colleges’ needs.

  I want to be sure that the proposals are feasible before they are implemented and therefore I have asked the SQA to carry out rigorous checks to ensure that this system will work. The outcome of the feasibility study will be known within the next few weeks.

  The new Scottish Qualifications Certificate was used for the first time in the summer of 2000. The Scottish Executive and SQA received feedback from a range of stakeholders on the design of the new certificate, in particular on the reporting of core skills and the need for further information on the certificate’s meaning for parents and employers. I have asked the SQA to revise the certificate in time for Diet 2001. My aim is to ensure that the new certificate is easier to understand for candidates, parents, centres and employers. The SQA will send details of its proposals to centres and stakeholders early next year.

Smoking

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Voluntary Charter on Smoking in Public Places has been disseminated and what systems of monitoring and evaluation have been put in place to measure the effectiveness of the charter in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Voluntary Charter on Smoking in Public Places is in the process of being extensively disseminated to the membership of the Charter signatories: the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, the Scottish Tourism Forum, the British Hospitality Association and the Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association of Scotland. This process is due to be completed by January 2001.

  Detailed arrangements for monitoring the impact of the Charter in co-operation with Charter signatories have still to be agreed. However, monitoring is likely to be through an exercise similar to the independent Survey of Smoking in Public Places which was published on 11 May. A copy is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

  A copy of the Scottish Voluntary Charter on Smoking in Public Places pack, which was distributed, will also be made available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Water Authorities

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to privatise water authorities.

Mr Sam Galbraith: No.